From unfettered natural wonders to luxury resorts and shopping, St. Thomas – one of the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea – offers couples a tropical utopia to tie the knot.
While the majority of nuptials take place on the pristine island sands, couples can also pledge their love among the lush foliage of a botanical garden, or within a finely decorated ballroom featuring stunning ocean views. In addition, the isle’s numerous wedding vendors are top of the line. It’s a wedding destination that’s sure to please even the pickiest of lovebirds.
When to go: While the temperature on St. Thomas is almost always around a comfortable 88 degrees, keep in mind that the rainy season is September to November and the dry season is January to March.
Here’s our list of the best venues and vendors for your St. Thomas wedding – no matter the time of year.
St. Thomas Wedding Venues:
Most Popular Venue: Magens Bay Beach
Named by National Geographic as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Magens Bay Beach is an enchanting St. Thomas venue. Backed by a tapestry of flowering trees with an idyllic paradise vibe, your wedding day will feel blissful as you walk down an aisle of powder-soft sand before saying your I Dos.
Because Magens Bay Beach has no designated wedding planner, your best bet is to hire one of the many St. Thomas wedding planners who are already familiar with the beach’s regulations. They can then help you organize the ceremony and reception, as both can be hosted on the beach.
Typical Cost: $150 site fee, plus $5 for each guest
Capacity: No limit, but the venue is best for weddings with fewer than 100 guests
Bonus: The beach is equipped with bathrooms and a bar
Follow Magens Bay Beach on Facebook and Instagram.
Most Scenic Venue: Villa Botanica Garden
Situated on Crown Mountain and looking out onto Charlotte Amalie Harbor, Villa Botanica Garden sits on a historic 5.5-acre sugar plantation estate. Event spaces, enhanced by the flora of tropical gardens, include a lawn that borders a waterfall and garden pavilion, a stone terrace overlooking the pool and shimmering St. Thomas Harbor, and a sugar mill.
Weddings at this picturesque venue are enjoyed alfresco, as the trade winds keep the temperature pleasant and the lush palms, orchids, and bougainvillea creates stunning focal points. Because of its size, the venue can accommodate everything from galas, with stations set up throughout the property, to smaller cocktail receptions with hors d’oeuvres.
Typical Cost: $450 per hour for weddings of 2-60 guests, with a minimum of 4 hours. Each additional hour is $450. For weddings with 60+ guests, the rate is $28 per person for a 4-hour event. Each additional hour is $550
Capacity: 200
Bonus: The venue can provide rose petals for the aisle, white chiffon canopies, and strands of crystals or dendrobium orchids hanging from date palms
Most Affordable Venue: Secret Harbour Beach Resort
The charming Secret Harbour Beach Resort is a one-stop-shop for destination weddings, providing sand, sea, and palms, high-quality accommodations, designated wedding planners, indoor and outdoor venues, and food and drink services.
All three wedding packages include:
- free room upgrade
- wedding coordination by Irie Matrimony Weddings + Events
- beachfront site fee
- officiant
- custom bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere
- photography, hair, and makeup services
- flower petals for the aisle
- cake
- other perks depending on the package
Sunset Grille, one of the most popular reception sites at the Caribbean beachside resort, provides stellar service and dishes made from same-day fish and fresh produce from local farmers. It also serves a wide variety of specialty cocktails and offers a customized, tropical-inspired bar.
Typical Cost: $2,000 to $6,850
Capacity: 50
Bonus: You and your guests will have plenty to do between wedding events, as the resort provides water sport rentals, scuba diving, a freshwater swimming pool, tennis courts, a fitness center, and massage services
Follow Secret Harbour Beach Resort on Facebook and Twitter.
St. Thomas Wedding Vendors:
Recommended Photographer: Crown Images
Sage Hammond, owner-photographer at Crown Images, describes her style as relaxed and timeless with a cinematic, celebratory quality.
Through effective communication with clients well before the wedding, Hammond gets to know the couples, and what they hope to achieve, so she can appropriately capture their vision in this vibrant, tropical setting.
Typical Cost: $1,350
Follow Crown Images on Facebook and Instagram.
Recommended Florist: Roses Too
At designer flower shop Roses Too, couples can simply choose their favored colors and florists can then craft masterpieces that match their desired palate. If couples wish to be more hands-on, they can communicate their specific preferences and Roses Too will happily accommodate.
Whether your vision is a classic, eclectic, glamorous, modern, romantic, or tropical theme, florists can craft picture-perfect aisles, altar decors, bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, or other floral creations, making it a suitable and flexible vendor for any couple.
Typical Cost: Starts at $1,500
Follow Roses Too on Instagram.
Recommended Caterer: Passion Fruit Chefs
Whether couples are set on authentic island fare, like jerk chicken breast with pineapple salsa, or a more traditional wedding feast, like filet mignon finished with a Merlot reduction sauce, Passion Fruit Chefs can serve up dishes you and your guests will love.
The full-service catering company works with couples closely to create custom menus that suit their culinary wishes. It can also craft dietary-conscious menus that are free of gluten, nuts, or lactose, meals without pork, and kosher, vegan, or vegetarian options. Dishes can be served buffet or family style, as a cocktail reception, plated, or via stations. Additionally, the caterer offers full bar services.
Typical Cost: Starts at $64 per person
Follow Passion Fruit Chefs on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
